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Background of Neurturin antibody

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) plays key roles in the control of vertebrate neuron survival and differentiation. A novel neurotrophic factor was recently cloned from human and mouse and designated neurturin (1, 2). Physiological responses to neurturin (NTN) require the presence of receptor tyrosine kinase RET and a novel glycosylphosphatidylinositol linked receptor NTNRalpha (3,4). The cDNAs encoding NTNRalpha from human, rat, chicken, and mouse have been cloned recently (3-8) and termed GDNFRbeta, Ret ligand 2 (RETL2) or TGF-beta-related neurotrophic factor receptor 2 (TrnR2) and nominated as GFRalpha-2 recently (9). NTN binds to and forms a complex with GFRalpha-2 and the Ret PTK and activates the RET receptor tyrosine kinase pathway. Both NTN and GDNF can activate the MAP kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathways and play a critical role in the development of many neuronal populations. Neurturin and GDNF define a new family of neurotrophic factors.